Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Rousseau. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ben, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Having recently been diagnosed with ADHD, i now realise why I found it hard to focus and concentrate listening to certain teachers at school who labeled me disruptive, and a dreamer sometimes. Growing up in England’s oldest recorded town I not only wanted to shape the physical future of our surroundings but I wanted to prove to certain people that I had more than just a creative imagination. I didn’t like being told I need to do things the same way as everyone else and now it feels more right than ever that I want to use my creativity to bring happiness and excitement to peoples lives and minds.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Ben Rousseau, since 2001 I’ve been running a specialist Art & Design studio creating lighting art installations and modern designs for special spaces and unique environments. Working for a wide range of clients including celebrated sports stars in the UK to high profile businessmen in silicon valley, and in iconic locations such as the Ice Hotel in arctic Sweden to the Desert of Burning man.
I got into the industry after chasing a dream to make film props and learn special effects, while DJ’ing at University and creating props for my own small gigs I discovered the power of lighting and how it can transform a very basic space into something special.
So I started off the business creating, furniture and interior installations with lighting incorporated, for events spaces and luxury homes that created a very modern and calming atmosphere. As the commissions moved between commercial premises and domestic projects, the scope moved between modern functional artworks and interactive pieces that people could engage with to luxury pieces of artistic design that created a statement in their surroundings. The individual pieces moved on to public environments and complete interiors but always incorporated my passion and expertise with lighting and how I would use the relationship between light and shadow with material to create exciting and engaging projects.
I would very often work for other design studio’s and architects or production companies, producing and engineering other creative companies ideas as my engineering expertise grew and my vast network of expert craftsmen and fabricators broadened.
People come to me for my unique style of work, the highly engineered detailing and craftsmanship as well as the story behind the craftsmen that make my work, a lot of my collectors are motoring enthusiasts , and tech businessmen / women so the fact I work with so many renowned car customisers and film prop making companies plays an important part in the delivery or my creations.
My use of lighting is what gives my work a heart beat and that is what lights up my clients minds and spaces.
My Tempus collection is the work that has had most energy , development and thought gone into it with many many improvements in so many parts of the collection over the years and the almost infinite creative ability exploring the relationship between time, light and material and what it stands for probably makes me the most proud.
The bat cave project was one of the most fun and special interiors projects with so many different designs, custom pieces of furniture, lighting and art, and from a commercial perspective I’d say some of my projects at the Ice Hotel make me extremely proud as I love creating work that people can experience and sleeping in an artistic Ice hotel suite is about as unique and special experience as someone can have with your work.
This form of connection is what I want people to have most with my work, I want it to engage with them, I want them to walk away thinking wow that was special and be a moment in their life they will cherish and remember.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Seeing people really engage and react to my work, seeing the delight in their eyes and hearing them introduce the piece to friends or colleagues is just fantastic and never gets boring. Knowing that I’ve connected with someone for whatever reason is really beautiful.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I fundamentally just want to make people happy, in fact I want to make them really happy, really excited about owning and interacting with my work regularly. But also I want my work to stand for a message about how people need to look after themselves, take a moment to appreciate what they have, their families , their surroundings etc, I’ve nearly run myself into the ground many times, trying to juggle between managing the larger projects that help me develop and experiment with the more personal art pieces that I’m creating for my own pleasure and needs, not because there is some huge gap in the market for some piece of essential design or creativity. Art & design is such a personal choice and I love that so If I can find my own little tribe of people that love the work I do then that is great! I also follow so many amazingly talented people and am always feeling not worthy being part of this world, so I want to people to never try and compare yourself to others but I’m also much better at advising than following my own advise. Just be good to yourself and others is my message!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.benrousseau.com
- Instagram: @ben_rousseau_studio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenRousseauDesign/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrousseaudesign/
- Twitter: @rousseaudesign
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@benrousseaustudio
- Other: Pinterest :https://www.pinterest.co.uk/benrousseau
Image Credits
BR in White Bubble Chair by David Eichler.
Tempus clock pics by Mark Cocksedge
Pink Can Cal Mirror by Jake Curtis